CHAPTER TWENTY
Liam
I couldn’t get it out of my head that Chad had been in Chicago possibly the same time Mallory was kidnapped. But we still weren’t sure she was taken from Chicago and brought to Montana.
Something wasn’t adding up right. A had a gut feeling that whatever it was we were looking for, it was right in front of us.
“Penny for your thoughts,” Mallory softly said as she sat down next to me outside.
“I can’t get it out of my head he was in Chicago.”
“Do you think he was alone? Maybe Krista went with him.”
“I guess she could have, I should have asked.”
“He didn’t laugh like the guy who had taken me, nor did he talk like him. I really don’t think it was Chad, Liam.”
Rubbing at the back of my neck, I slowly shook my head. “It’s right in front of us, I can feel it, Mallory. We’re missing something.”
Turning, I grabbed my phone.
“What are you doing?” Mallory asked.
“Calling Randy.” My cousin answered almost immediately. “I need you at the houseright now.”
“Is everything okay?” Randy asked. “Mallory?”
“She’s okay, but Randy, I can’t talk to you about this over the phone.”
“I’m on my way.”
I also sent a text to Billy and Bubba to come to the house. We needed to get our heads together and figure this shit out.
“I’m so sorry, Liam,” Mallory whispered as she wrapped her arms around her body.
When I looked at her, she had tears streaming down her face.
“I wish I could remember something about being taken. Anything.”
I reached a hand out to her. When she laced her fingers with mine, I pulled her close and wrapped my arms around her. She started crying harder.
Running my hand up and down her back, I said, “I know I should be relieved it’s not my brother, and I am. And we’ll figure this out, Mallory, I promise you.”
Squeezing my eyes shut, I wanted all of this not to have happened. I wished I’d met Mallory some other way. I didn’t want to think someone I might know or have passed on the streets was capable of something so horrific.
When she finally stopped crying so hard, she drew back slowly. “Maybe I came to Montana to visit?”
I slowly shook my head. “I don’t know. But we’re going to find out.”
Billy and Bubba showed up not long after I sent the text to them. I told them about Chad’s visit and how he had been in Chicago most likely the same time as Mallory. Could Chad have been a part of Mallory’s kidnapping?
Mallory stood and started to pace. “I don’t think he’s involved. He didn’t even flinch when he saw me or I said my name. He honestly looked like he’d met me right then and there.”
“It might simply be a crazy coincidence, Liam, and that’s all,” Billy stated.
I nodded. “Maybe.”
Nearly an hour later, Randy walked into my living room. He took one look at everyone and frowned deeply. “Looks like we’ve been doing some sleuthing, gentlemen.”
